REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action on Amendment to Architectural Committee Procedures
Report
BACKGROUND
The Santa Clara City Code (SCCC) vests the Santa Clara Architectural Committee with the authority to conduct architectural review of proposed signs, buildings, structures, and alterations. Currently, Section 18.76.020 of the Code provides that the Architectural Committee shall be composed of two members of the Planning Commission, and a third member who is appointed by the City Council. Historically, the City Council has appointed one of its own members to the Architectural Committee.
On May 8, 2001, the City Council adopted voting procedures and guidelines for the Architectural Committee, which provided that the Committee could only take action with a quorum of two members present. The procedures did not specify that the two members making up the quorum had to be from either the Council or the Planning Commission. Around 2003, however, the Architectural Committee began attaching a different statement of procedures to its agendas, which provided that "[a]t least one City Council member and at least one Planning Commissioner must be present in order to establish a quorum for voting purposes."
DISCUSSION
Historically, the City Council has appointed one of its own members to the Architectural Committee. Expanding the pool of applicants to the broader community would allow the Council to appoint persons to the Committee with relevant expertise in architecture and design.
If the City Council appoints a non-member, it will be necessary to revise the Architectural Committee Procedures to delete the requirement that a Council member must be present in order to have a quorum. The proposed amended Architectural Committee Procedures would essentially restore the 2001 procedural language, which provides only that two members must be present for a quorum.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW.
The action being considered does not constitute a "project" within the meaning o...
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